Civic apathy: AIADMK leader shielded by police, alleges DMK Chief

A young life was snuffed out because of the blatant disregard of the political class, but even the heartrending death of 22-year-old Subhasri hasn't been enough to move the Chennai police into acting against former AIADMK councillor Jayagopal, who is still absconding. No amount of pressure-from political class or civil society- seems to be sufficient to wake the Chennai police from the self-induced sleep they've been in since September 12th. 

DMK Chief accuses Chennai Police of shielding the AIADMK leader

DMK chief and Tamilnadu leader of the opposition, MK Stalin, tweeted on September 21, 'It's illegal to shield the accused who has committed a crime, even after so many days after Subhashri's death. Many have fell down & broken their bones in the bathrooms of police stations while the accused is still untouched, Chennai police is sparring him for whom?'

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Illegal hoarding collapses on a 22-year-old

On September 12, a hoarding to announce a wedding in the family of AIADMK politician Jayagopal collapsed on Subhasri while she was riding her scooter on the Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam road. The hoarding was illegally erected, despite a ruling from Madras HC banning it years ago. A day later, on September 13, the police included the name of C Jayagopal in the FIR under Section 4 of The Tamil Nadu Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1959 for installing the hoarding without permission. It took another complaint by Subhasri's father for Jayagopal to be charged with Section 308 of the IPC (attempt to commit culpable homicide)

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Police claim the leader is absconding

Last Saturday, he reportedly got himself admitted in a hospital with complaints of chest ache but the police did not attempt to take him into custody. Over a week since the incident, the police have failed to arrest him and now claim that he is absconding. Sources indicate that the police have not even questioned his family and friends to track down the ex-councillor belonging to the ruling party of Tamilnadu. While the driver of the tanker, under which Subhasri was dreadfully killed, was immediately arrested, the delay in arresting the politician at whose behest the killer-banner was hoisted, is being attributed by police to investigation and proper documentation. 

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Family accuses police of shielding Jayagopal

The family of the deceased techie has accused the police of shielding Jayagopal, adding that nobody from the ruling AIADMK has even visited them so far to express condolences. Even as the anger against Jayagopal and police is escalating, the government’s apathy has been further accentuated by its stoic silence. Last week, minister Jayakumar’s statement that ‘it is the citizens' responsibility to ensure road safety’ displayed the insensitivity yet again. 

Tamilnadu, for decades, has had an active culture of erecting huge banners and cutouts of film stars and politicians. In 2017, another techie lost his life after he too had met with an accident in Coimbatore due to an illegally erected hoarding. But despite two tragic deaths, harsh criticism by the high court and humongous public outcry, little seems to have changed on the ground.

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